Hi, I have been woodturning for a few months and have a small midi lathe. I am progressing along nicely - nothing fancy you understand, but it pleases me. The problem is, that because my shop is small, I can only accomodate a small lathe, and the motor is not that powerfull (0.5 HP). My wife does not know, but I have come into a little windfall of about £1000 (thats about $1750 for you colonial types) and want to upgrade. I will have to get a midi lathe again (my shop is 4ft x 10ft and I have to share it with a freezer!), but would like something with at least 1HP.....Any suggestions, guys?
For that amount of money, you could get a Nova 3000, which has more swing but is only a little longer. I think it has a bed length about 24" long. Of course, Oneway makes the 1224 and Nova has the DVR for subtantially more.
The Nova(either one) or the Oneway could be extended in the future if you enlarge your workshop.
I concur with the motionot purchase the Nova 3000. I purchased one, slightly preowned, last fall and have been delighted. Mine is 1 HP witht he DC speed control---nice, real nice. Size wise, it is only about a foot to
18 inches linger than the Delta and associated stand.
I'm in the US, you're in England, but if there's one thing we have in common it's that you're in trouble if she finds out you got this windfall and didn't tell her about it or share it.
I use a Fisch lathe with a 1/2 HP. But if you want more power, go with a Nova.
May I make a suggestion??? Not about the lathe but about the finances that gets the lathe. One of my former pations was amature radio. There is a story of a man that got a new expensive radio, but how to get into the house??? It was delivered to his work location and then he went to a hobby store and bought dust and thing that simulate cracked glass ect. He dressed up his new radio so it looked like it came out of a land fill. His wife wanted to know why he had spent $50.00 on this piece of junk. He told her if he could clean it up the radio would be great prize. So everynight he cleaned up his new radio and by the end of the week his wife was amazed at how good it looked and he showed her how much it would have cost new. He was great in her eyes for makeing such a deal. Now all you have to do is have it over to some ones house and fix it up with a little fiinish splash, maybe take off the motor or remove the stand. Once it is home slowly clean it up and put the "new" motor back on. Maybe you will be the hero for making a great deal on a used lathe.
Not sure which lathes are available in England. But look at what Axminster Power Tool Centre carries. Below is a review of the Woodfast C450. They also make a Woodfast C1000. 45cm and 100cm between center distance.
What a great idea! You're gonna burn in Hell! Or, worse if your wife figures out what you're up to. Great plan, though!
Barry
PS Actually, it the male equivalent of the old female ploy. The wife buys an expensive new dress, brings it home, hangs it in the closet for a couple of weeks. She finally brings it out and wears it and Hubby notices.
My wife walked in the shop this weekend, I happend to have two routers sitting out. One of which she did not know about.
"Oh that little one? I got that on Ebay a while back, they were almost giving it away."
I got a better story than that. A few years back, a buddy wanted to buy a new canoe, like, his 5th or 6th canoe. His wife likes bargains. He bought the canoe, took it to a buddys house, they spray painted "Blemish" on the inside, as Mad River does on the few occasions when they have Blems for sale. Now he wants to sell it, I told him I wouldn't give much for it, as it was a blem.
Bruce, please be aware that even if you remove your post from a newsgroup, it will always be available somewhere on the web and anyone, given a little thought, will find it.
I've managed to outfit my shop with used stationary tools that were in sad shape when I acquired them. My bride still inspects the shop periodically and comments on what she sees as "new" tools.
This is what often works for me:
Try to have one tool in pieces with the parts scattered. "It's not new, Honey. It's broken."
2 On occasion,when she is out, have a friend bring by one of his tools. Begin to unload as she arrives home. Explain it is not your tool. You are repairing/painting/testing it for a friend.
2a Load the tool as she arrives. Have your buddy hand you some money. Explain how he is buying the tool/reimbursing you for the cost of parts/delivering it to/for someone else.
3 Prepare two identical tools. Paint each a different bright or dull color. NEVER let her see both tools. On occasion,replace one with the other in a prominent place in your shop. When she asks... A Insist it is in for testing. B Insist it is waiting to be picked up by the owner. C Tell her it was free, being broken and unrepairable. You may use it for parts. D Tell her you got it in trade for the afternoon you spent tuning a bandsaw for a friend of a friend.
4 Rearrange the tools/benches and such in your shop twice a year. Don't let her get accustomed to the location of anything!
5 When being questioned, work in some talk concerning a project of hers. Offer advice. If you must, offer to help.
6 When being questioned, NEVER LET THEM SEE YOU SWEAT!!!
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